red sage
a bushy shrub, Salvia miltiorrhiza, whose roots are known to Chinese herbalists as dan shen and have traditionally been used (powdered or whole) to treat cardiac and vascular disorders, including heart attacks, stroke, and atherosclerosis. Red sage has been shown in some studies to decrease the clotting capability of blood; it should not be taken in combination with prescribed blood thinners, as bleeding problems may result. Other studies suggest red sage may interfere with the development of scarlike fibers in the liver (associated primarily with chronic hepatitis and consumption of large quantities of alcohol) and may be effective in preventing the growth of cancer cells and the replication of the HIV virus, but these potential uses have not been confirmed. Side effects of red sage are mild and may include itching, stomach upset, and decreased appetite. The active compounds are miltirone and other diterpene quinones, which act as partial agonists
at the benzodiazepine–GABA receptor complex (see GABAA receptorgabaa-receptor). Because red sage is a partial agonist, it may enhance the sedative effects of drugs that are full benzodiazepine agonists, leading to extreme drowsiness.